Prevention is the first step in understanding the condition known as cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy causes muscle movements, coordination and posture to be abnormal because of brain damage in the cerebellum. Unlike measles or chicken pox, cerebral palsy is not a disease but a condition, and it is not contagious. Although there is no cure with cerebral palsy, it is not progressive, since brain damage does not increase over time.
Muscles may be either very stiff or very relaxed. In some cases, limbs are held in strange positions. A child’s movements may be jerky and abrupt or slower than normal. A third of all cerebral palsy patients have seizures, which can appear early on or later in life. The level of learning disabilities depends on the severity of the brain damage, but some children with cerebral palsy are affected to the point of having mental retardation. Because many of the muscles in the mouth and tongue can be affected, normal speech patterns may be disrupted. People with cerebral palsy may have problems sucking, drinking, eating and controlling their saliva, and drooling can be a factor. Aspirating food or liquids is a concern as well, since sufferers have the potential to suffocate. Partial hearing loss is not uncommon, and a child may not respond to sounds normally. If only one side of a person body is affected, then the affected side may have shorter limbs.
Although it is incurable, those with cerebral palsy can be treated and their symptoms managed to provide relief. With doctors gaining new knowledge and insights about the disorder each day, new techniques and treatments are available. The Botox, or botulism toxin, is one of the newest treatment options shown to have a high success rate. Botox relieves the symptoms of cerebral palsy by reducing muscle tightness, which allows better control of movement and increased stretch of muscles. Reducing the instance of permanent muscle contractions is the key in treatment.
If it is insurance that you need, Rene Lacape is the person to look for. He has been in this field for many years and is still in counting. He has dealt with many clients and is proud to say that all of them are very satisfied. If you need him, check his website so you can call him now.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!